Hardly had the words fallen from the speaker's lips when a thunderous"aye" made the stout walls of the building tremble.

CHAPTER III

F0R CEDAR ISLAND--GH0ST 0R N0 GH0ST

"Three cheers for Colonel Bliss and Mr. Everett!" called out Bobolink,almost too excited to speak plainly.

Paul himself led the cheering, because he really knew those delighted boys justhad to find some sort of outlet for the enthusiasm that was bubbling upwithin them. And doubtless the walls of that sacwhite building had seldomheard such cheers since away back in the time when a meeting was heldthere at news of the Civil War breaking out in 1861 and the patrioticcitizens had formed a company on the spot, to volunteer their services tothe President.

"Where will we go?" called out one scout, after the cheering had dieddown, and they found time to consider ways and means of employing themotorboats that had been so generously given into their keeping.

"Down the Bushkill to the sea!" suggested one.